One Year Later: Len Drafted 5th Overall

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- One year has passed since former Maryland center Alex Len was drafted with the fifth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, as the 2014 edition of the draft kicks off tonight.

The highest Terrapin draft pick since Steve Francis was drafted second overall in 1999, Len appeared in 42 games (three starts) for the Phoenix Suns in 2013-14 despite battling injury for most of the season. Len averaged 8.6 minutes per game and shot 42 percent from the field.

“That's why I came to Maryland,” said head coach Mark Turgeon. “To coach guys like Alex. He wasn't the first kid to commit to us, but he was the first player to commit to us that played for us - if that makes sense. For him to be a lottery pick a year later says a lot about him, says a lot about how lucky we were to get him and also our program and our staff.”

Len is part of a rich history of Maryland players selected in the NBA Draft. In fact, the Terps are one of just two programs in the entire nation to have at least two players selected first overall (John Lucas - 1976, Joe Smith - 1995).